CLERMONT, Fla. — The University of South Carolina Beaufort softball team's remarkable inaugural season likely came to an end Sunday, as the Sand Sharks were eliminated from the Sun Conference tournament one game short of the championship game with a 2-1 loss to St. Thomas.

USCB freshman Kristy Cook turned in another strong outing, going head to head with St. Thomas ace Brenda Emerson in a pitchers' duel in which all the scoring came in the first inning. 

Cook (20-5) allowed only two runs — one earned — on seven hits in a complete game.

But the Sand Sharks managed only one run and five hits against Emerson. Shelby Zipperer was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Sand Sharks.

USCB is not likely to receive an at-large bid to the NAIA National Championships, but even if they don't, the Sand Sharks finish their inaugural season with a  37-11 record and finished second in the Sun Conference in the regular season.

Four USCB players — sophomores Katie Rietkovich and Melanie Goolsby and freshmen Zipperer and Cook — were named to the all-conference team.